Spring Lemon Loaf

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup orange juice (for the batter)
• 1 stick butter (melted; salted or unsalted)
• 4 eggs
• vanilla extract (a dash)
• 0.5 cup applesauce
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise (Duke's brand recommended)
• 1 lemon (fully zested and half juiced)
• 1 box lemon pudding mix (instant or cook-and-serve (author implies instant))
• 1 box Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Lemon Supreme cake mix
• 1 cup granulated sugar (for simple syrup)
• 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
• 2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 3 tbsp orange juice (for glaze; added gradually)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 stick of melted butter, 4 eggs, a dash of vanilla extract, 1/2 cup applesauce, and 1/2 cup mayonnaise. Blend these wet ingredients together until smooth.

3. 3

   Zest one entire lemon into the mixture. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice of one half into the bowl.

4. 4

   Add one box of lemon pudding mix and one box of Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme cake mix to the wet ingredients. Mix until fully combined and the batter is smooth.

5. 5

   Pour the batter into loaf tins. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.

6. 6

   While the loaves are baking, prepare the simple syrup. Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil on the stove for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

7. 7

   Once the cakes are finished baking and are still 'popping hot', spoon the simple syrup over the top of the loaves, allowing the hot cake to soak up the liquid.

8. 8

   Prepare the glaze by combining 2 cups of powdered sugar with roughly 1 to 3 tablespoons of orange juice. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more until you reach a smooth, pourable consistency.

9. 9

   Allow the cakes to cool completely before drizzling the orange juice glaze over the top.

Notes

The author emphasizes using Duke's mayonnaise for the best results. The simple syrup should be applied while the cake is hot, but the glaze should wait until the cake is cooled.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• lemon loaf
• baked
• farm stand
• Appalachian
• cake mix hack
• spring